Synopsis

Even though this is a sequel to To LOVE-Ru, all of our main characters make an appearance along with some new additions. Rito continues to be caught in over the top uncensored ecchi scenarios. The alien Deviluke sisters still use their unique abilities to grab Rito's love confession. Nana and Momo have transferred into the school and meet Mea, who seems to be a worry free and joyful girl. Momo in particular wants to share Rito and create a harem for him. While scheming her plan, she confronts Golden Darkness also know as Yami. They are interrupted by possessed students who begin to fight with abnormal strength. Now the new plot line appears as a mysterious person who's in control of the students tests Yami's assassination skills. Who is this new enemy?

What?!? Plot in To-Love-Ru? You're kidding me right? Adding decent story to arguably one of the finest ecchi harem mangas written is like adding hot fudge to an ice-cream sundae or adding bacon to a cheeseburger. Yep, it sounds that good.

To-Love-Ru is back! After an ambiguous end to the original series due to outside circumstances, I find it commendable that both Yabuki-sensei and Hasemi-sensei have he balls to pick up this series where they literally dropped it off in the summer of 2009. Based on the three chapters currently out, I feel that Yabuki-sensei and Hasemi-sensei are pouring much more time and effort into this sequel. There are new characters, a new storyline, great art, and (I'm not kidding) potential PLOT!!!.

Before I begin, I realize that it is quite premature to write a review on a series with only three chapters published. Rather than reviewing the actual manga, consider this a review of the manga's potential, based on conjectures and projections from the three chapters published, the original series, and a little bit of optimism.

Story:
To-Love-Ru Darkness: 9/10
Original To-Love-Ru: 7/10
I begin with perhaps both the selling point of this new series as well as the most projection-based and questionable rating I will make in this review. I have absolutely no hard evidence that To-Love-Ru Darkness' story line is that good. All I know is that it seems to be much more existent than the storyline in the original work, which garners it a higher rating than the original. Based on foreshadowing made in the first three chapters, as well as the epicness of Yabuki-sensei's previous series Black Cat, I suspect there may be a fair bit more action, drama, and maybe even conspiracy theory than there was in the original To-Love-Ru. I also have the feeling that some of the orignal Black Cat cast might make an appearance here or there. At the first least I give the story a high-probability of being non-episodic. But even that is a huge step up from the original, plotless series, and I believe the inclusion of story could be the biggest change, the biggest improvement, and the biggest selling point of this new series.
Also, it seems like the main cast of the series has been swapped. We all know that La-La and Haruna both crush hard on Rito; now its time for some of the other characters to shine. It seems like the focus here is on this new girl named Mea, Momo, and Yami. Since Yami-chan has been a favorite character throughout the two Yabuki series she has appeared in, I find this fact a major plus. (In my loli-Yami-chan-loving heart, the story is 10+/10.)
One final thing about the story is that there seems to be a lot less comedy than there was in the orignal series. I don't find that a bad thing, which is why I overlooked it, but I am aware that this may actually turn off a lot of viewers, as the original series was mainly comedy.

Art:
To-Love-Ru Darkness: 10/10
Original To-Love-Ru: 9/10
Holy Shit Yabuki-sensei is a God. His skill at drawing has been improving steadily throughout both Black Cat and the original To-Love-Ru. Black Cat, being a tradition shounen-action manga, nurtured his ability to draw seamless and awesome action while To-Love-Ru gave him plenty of time to practice drawing naked bodies. Based on the conjectures I made about the story, I believe both skill sets will serve him well in this series. There hasn't been too much action to judge on, but the ecchi scenes were steamy. I mean...holy god...look at him squeeze those nipples...O.O. The ecchi and the ecchi humor has gone up a serious notch in my opinion, as there is less “KYAAH DON”T LOOK!” and more serious, serious seduction going on. On that note, Momo scares me shitless.

Characters
To-Love-Ru Darkness: 9/10
Original To-Love-Ru: 9/10
Once again, I don't have any foundation for this rating, which is why it received the same score as its predecessor. The same cast of colorful, some coercive, some kind, girls (I was tempted to use a different word to add to the alliteration) returns with their main and supporting roles switched. The older sister La-La has had her chance to shine; now its time for the voyeuristic, younger sister to take over and plot in the darkness. Although its not enough to warrant a bump in points, I feel that there is increased capacity for character development in To-Love-Ru Darkness than there was in the original series due to the (potential) presence of drama and plot.

Enjoyment
To-Love-Ru Darkness: 10/10
Original To-Love-Ru: 8/10
Being the evil bastard I am, I enjoy the darker, more dramatic storyline of To-Love-Ru Darkness more than the light-hearted episodic comedy of the original series. As mentioned before, the ecchi scenes and the ecchi jokes have been notched up a level, and I would consider it at the level of seinen, aimed at older males. These girls are seriously trying to seduce Rito's pants off, and some of their methods are crazy hot and aggressive. Finally, since its a Yami-centered series, the enjoyment on my part has been boosted up a level. Now if only Yui were be a main gal as well.

Overall Rating:
To-Love-Ru Darkness: 9.5/10 mean
Original To-Love-Ru: 8.25/10 mean
I feel like To-Love-Ru Darkness has serious potential to outshine the original series. As the name implies, Rito's days will be much darker and steamier time than were in the original series. A suitable analogy for the relationship between To-Love-Ru and To-Love-Ru Darkness would be that of the first few chapters of Mahou Sensei Negima with its latest epic chapters and arcs.

I welcome questions, comments, criticisms and compliments whether you found this review helpful or not.read more

to love ru darkness is one of the most intresting mangas i have read.
it contains a bit of everything the storyline is the main thing, at times it can be funny just watching rito get into weird situations and momos desperate attempts of suducing him. you get really stuck into the manga when the storyline comes tense when some change of events happen and you get to see some change of heart with yami.

it gets updated every month and this should be their 10th issue this month.

Despite what Gintama may have you believe, To-Love Ru Darkness is without a doubt a legitimately interesting manga and its story keeps you invested, with good writing to keep you invested. Although this is a stuffed one that can't move forward, with several plotlines going on at the same time and individual chapters dealing only with one (it could probably use a decent trimming of at least some of them), what keeps me reading beyond the T&A is the emotional weight of the story. Unlike a lot of other harem and ecchi series, you are kept invested in what the characters are saying because it has a lot of stuff behind it. You also need it to gain context in the ecchi scenes, because they are usually very connected. The major overall themes are that one can change, no matter who they were in the past and that love, family, and friendship are catalysts for this change. However, when the emotional and thematic weight is lost, I lose my investment. The climax of the first arc is extremely boring and uninteresting because of a lack of this investment. But when it has this emotional weight to the story, it is a highly interesting manga to read. Despite all this, it is still pretty stupid.

Art: 7/10

This is one of the gutsiest fanservice manga you will ever read, barely short of actual sex and uses a lot of hentai elements. It's incredibly fun to see what Kentaro Yabuki and Hasemi Saki can get past the censors. Sometimes it does push the limit of taste, and one moment is so bad that it immediately lost three points. However, it works with the story because it's not contrived or forced. It never leaves you questioning the in-story logic or point of it. The fanservice is extremely sexy, so it works in that department. Yabuki's art has evolved a lot over the years, and in here it's at it best.

Character: 8/10

The characterization here is strong. Rito Yuuki is really one of the best harem protagonists ever in my opinion because of his legitimate nice guy status. He's thoughtful, dependable, kind, caring, and charismatic. Sometimes these are the tools of his most badass moments, because he gets heart-throb sexy when he's caring-angry. All the other characters are people you care about and well thought-out. They aren't extremely complex characters, but they do have emotions that a reader will care about. Some are more interesting in others. I should also note that save for Ren and Matome, a lot of male background characters are piggish, perverted scumbags. Especially the principal, who you wonder why even still has his job.

Enjoyment: 10/10

This is one of the most fun manga you will ever read. At least I get a kick out of it. It's a great mix of funny, erotic, stupid, and emotional. I cringe, I cry, I laugh, and I get hard. It's just a lot of fun to read.

Overall: 9/10

While it has some small flaws, it's one of the best harem anime out there.

To love ru darkness is the greatest harem anime in my opinion. the lack of story, the character development moving about as fast as a snail thats being set on fire, the fact that most characters are just exaggerated anime stereotypes, and the fact the creators push to the brim in each chapter to see how much vagina they can show before a tail or a hand needs to be drawn for censorship are one the main reasons why I love this manga.

Story: 4

Don't get me wrong here im a HUGE fan of this manga, but we are not here for the story. in fact, what usually gets me excited for a next chapter is knowing what situations they could think of putting these characters in, because i've always been impressed by their sexual creativity haha

Art: 10

To me, To love ru darkness has the best art when it comes to ecchi- soft porn mangas, and it was one the reasons why I love this manga so.

Character: 5

I've seen better characters in my time, but using stereotypical archetypes really made it funny yet really predictable to the point where you would know what the characters would do/say before it happened.

enjoyment: 10

enough said, having a great time reading.

Overall: 9

funny, stupid, erotic, beautiful art, if your looking for some *material* or youre just feeling like an ecchi to read, this is your mangaread more

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